Microsoft Announces Investment in ThingWorld.com

REDMOND, Wash., March 11, 1999 — Microsoft Corp. and ThingWorld.com today announced that Microsoft has made an investment in ThingWorld.com, a Newton, Mass.-based Internet media company. The investment follows an announcement in early December that the two companies have formed a strategic technology and marketing alliance to integrate Microsoft® Windows® Media Technologies into all ThingWorld.com technologies, creating a powerful solution for Internet content providers that use streaming media to maximize online commerce, membership, audience and brand awareness.

Financial details of the Microsoft investment remain undisclosed.

The companies are currently completing full integration of Microsoft Windows Media Technologies with ThingWorld.com technologies and are seeking shared customer relationships with leading media, entertainment, music, sports and consumer brand companies. ThingWorld.com technologies enable companies to drive traffic and commerce in unique ways through compelling digital content. ThingWorld.com also develops an Internet Media Network that aggregates and syndicates content to the Web’s top portals and communities, bringing content to millions of online consumers, much like a television network or movie distribution company.

“We have worked with ThingWorld.com to integrate our Windows Media platform with the company’s Thing technology. The easy integration of the two technologies showcases and helps to differentiate Microsoft’s offerings in the streaming media marketplace,”
said Will Poole, senior director, business development and strategy at Microsoft.
“In addition, we have been intrigued by the relationships that ThingWorld.com has spearheaded with GeoCities, Lycos Inc., the National Football League and World Wrestling Federation among others in its customer base. We are very pleased to invest in a company with such synergistic objectives and goals in a number of key areas.”

“In addition to entertaining and engaging viewers, the majority of our customers seek ways to use their streaming media content as a key component of their online commerce initiatives,”
said Steve Barlow, chairman and CTO of ThingWorld.com.
“By integrating Windows Media Technologies with the control and management capabilities of Things, we provide an ideal solution. We are pleased that Microsoft has demonstrated a vested interest in our relationship and consider this round of financing to be another major milestone for the company.”

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

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Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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